Slow Cooker and Locking Assembly

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to cooking utensils. The present invention provides a slow cooker and a locking assembly that have simple and practical structure, easy to clean and can engage the lid with the liner container for preventing spillage of cooking content such as soup. The structure comprises a container, a lid and a locking assembly. The locking assembly retains the lid on the opening of the container. The container has a rim projecting outside at the opening. The locking assembly comprises a connector disposed on the lid for engaging the lid with the opening of the container, and locking end components provided at ends of the connector for engaging with the rim of the liner container. Using the locking assembly to retain the lid in sealing engagement with the opening of the container, the slow cooker can effectively engage the lid with the container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims benefit from Chinese utility modelapplication no. 201120411145.2 filed on Oct. 25, 2011 by Midea GroupCo., Ltd. The entire disclosure of the application is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a slow cooker and its locking assemblyand, in particular, to a slow cooker that is capable of preventingspillage of cooking content such as soup.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional slow cooker comprises a liner container and a lid disposedon the top rim of the container. The lid is typically not securelyengaged with the container. The user is likely to move the cooker or theliner container containing food after the food is well cooked. The lidtends to slide off during movement because there is no secure connectionbetween the liner container and the lid. Furthermore, the shaking causedby the movement can possibly cause spillage of the liquid content in thecontainer, and thus may burn the user.

Chinese patent no. CN 200920198406.X discloses a slow cooker having atouch control panel, which comprises a working pot covered by a lid. Ahandle comprised of an upper part and a lower part is symmetricallyfixed near the top edge of working pot. A spring hole is arranged in themiddle of the lower part for accommodating a spring and a steel bead. Alatch is slidably arranged between the upper and lower parts, and themovement of the latch is limited by the steel bead. A closed sealingring, made of silicon gel, is arranged below the periphery of the lid toachieve seal connection between the lid and the working pot. The latchprovided between the working pot and the lid is used to seal the workingpot. However, this design has too many parts, resulting in high cost anddifficulty of assembly. Moreover, the latch is subject to large area offriction, causing non-smooth operation. Further, the steel bead ispositioned by the elastic force of the spring which may deteriorateduring long term use, resulting in high possibility of latch release.

Chinese patent no. CN 200710005602 discloses a slow cooker comprising ahousing, a container and a lid. The lid includes a gasket around anouter edge thereof and is shaped and sized to cover the opening of thecontainer. At least one over-the-center clip is mounted to the side allof the housing, the clip being selectively engageable with the lid toretain the lid in sealing engagement with the container, in order toinhibit leakage of the food stuffs from the interior of the container.The clip includes a hook and a lever, the hook being selectivelyengageable with the lid to selectively retain the lid in sealingengagement with the container. A catch has to be provided to the lid inorder to engage the hook of the clip. This will lead to additional costand more complicated manufacturing process for mounting such a catch,particularly on a glass lid as predominately used in slow cookers.

Additionally, the locking structure in the above disclosed slow cookersare fixed on the housing or container and can not be disassembled or beused for other slow cookers. The locking structure can not be easilyrepaired or replaced, resulting in a poor versatility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a slow cooker that hassimple and practical structure, easy to clean and can engage the lidwith the liner container for preventing spillage of cooking content suchas soup.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a slow cookercomponent, that is, a locking assembly, for engaging the lid with theliner container.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a locking assemblyfor engaging the lid with the liner container which is easy to repair orreplace.

A forth object of the present invention is to provide a universallocking assembly for cooking utensils, which can be used for multiplecooking utensils.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a slowcooker comprising a liner container, a lid and a locking assembly. Thelocking assembly retains the lid on an opening of the liner container.The liner container has a rim projecting outside at the opening. Thelocking assembly comprises a connector disposed on the lid for engagingthe lid with the opening of the liner container, and locking endcomponents provided at ends of the connector for engaging with the rimof the liner container.

Using the locking assembly to retain the lid in sealing engagement withthe opening of the liner container, the slow cooker according to thepresent invention can effectively seal the lid with the liner container,ensuring that the lid would not slide off when moving the slow cookerand that the soup liquid would not spill over when the slow cooker isbeing shaken. Additionally, the rim of the opening in conventional linercontainers can be effectively used in the present structure, such thatthere is no need to add any other structure to the liner container orthe housing, which ensures certain versatility. The rim is a ringdisposed outside of the opening of the liner container, with the samethickness in every position, so the lid can be freely engaged with anyposition of the rim, which may facilitate the user. The locking assemblycompresses the lid with its main body and retains the lid in sealingengagement with the liner container, which can equally distribute theengaging force all over the lid, so as to improve the sealing effect andmake it suitable for conventional glass or metal made lid.

The slow cooker comprises at least one locking assembly detachable fromthe liner container and the lid. Based on the size of the lid, more thanone locking assembly can be applied to the lid to improve the sealingeffect. Since the locking assembly is a structure independent from theliner container or the lid, the locking assembly can be produced aloneand there is no need to add any other component to the liner containeror the lid, which reduces the difficulty of producing and is easy toclean, repair or replace.

It is preferable for a common slow cooker that, the slow cookercomprises one elongated locking assembly disposed on the lid.

In a common slow cooker, the liner container and the lid are circular oroval and the lid has a handle. When the liner container and the lid areboth circular, the locking assembly is disposed along a diameter of thelid. When the liner container and the lid are both oval, the lockingassembly is disposed along a long axis or a short axis of the lid A holeis provided in a center of the locking assembly for passing through ofthe handle. Such design can ensure a big contact area between the mainbody of the locking assembly and the lid. It also can ensure that thelocking force is equally distributed over the lid, avoiding acentralized pressure on the lid and high material requirement. The holeprovided in a center of the locking assembly for passing through of thehandle, can facilitate the positioning of the locking assembly and canprevent it from moving left and right on an oval lid so as to facilitatethe user. The user only needs to put the locking assembly around thehandle and then engage the lid with the liner container. There is noneed to make any special positioning operation.

Each of the locking end components can comprise a locking button and ahook, wherein the hook has an upper end rotatablely connected with thelocking button, and a lower end provided with a lock position forengaging with the rim of the liner container. The locking button has oneend rotatablely connected with the connector with the other end free.This kind of structure is simple and easy to produce. It can provide alarge engaging force and can effectively engage the lid with the linercontainer.

Another structure of each of the locking end components comprises anunlocking button connected with the connector by a first pin and a lockconnected with the connector by a second pin. An elastic support sheetor a torsion spring is disposed under the unlocking button for retainingthe unlocking button in a locking state, and a torsion spring isdisposed under the lock for retaining the lock in an unlocking state.The lock has a free upper end, and a lower end provided with a lockposition for engaging with the rim of the liner container. The unlockingbutton has a front support block as a front end for supporting the freeupper end of the lock, and a free rear end.

Although this kind of structure is relatively more complicated, it iseasier to use because the lid can be retained on the liner containerwhen the front end of the unlocking button is pushing the lock. Toengage the lid with the liner container, the lower end of the elasticlock can be pushed down, pressing the lock position to be engaged withthe rim of the liner container. Under the force of the elastic supportsheet or the torsion spring, the front end of the unlocking button canautomatically move to a locking position and pushes the upper end of theelastic lock, so as to engage the lid with the liner container. Throughthe whole locking process, each elastic lock structure only need to bepressed one by one, making the operation very easy. To unlock the lidwith the liner container, the free end of the unlocking button can bepressed down and the front support block moves upward. The upper end ofthe elastic lock is no longer supported by the front support block ofthe unlocking button, so the lock position in the lower end moves upwardunder the force of the torsion spring, so as to unlock the lid with theliner container. This press-to-unlock pattern is different from theconventional pull-to-unlock pattern and avoids the potential for thefinger to touch the lid, reducing the risk that the finger may bescalded due to misoperation.

To make one locking assembly suitable for slow cookers of differentsize, each of the locking end components according to the presentinvention is connected with the connector by a positioning structure.The length of the locking assembly can be adjusted by adjusting thepositioning structure, which makes the locking assembly suitable fordifferent slow cookers.

The present invention also provides a locking assembly detachable fromthe liner container and the lid. The locking assembly comprises aconnector disposed on the lid for engaging the lid with the opening ofthe liner container, and locking end components provided at ends of theconnector for engaging with the rim of the liner container. Theindependent locking assembly has advantages as described above, and ithas wide applicability and can be used for different cooking utensils.

The main body of the locking assembly has an elongated shape, or a Yshape or an H shape. A hole is provided in a center of the lockingassembly for passing through of the handle, and each of the locking endcomponents is connected with the connector by a positioning structureused for adjusting length of the locking assembly. When the structurehas an elongated shape, it has two ends. When the structure has a Yshape, it has three ends. When the structure has an H shape, it has fourends. The ends are connected with the locking end components forengaging with the rim of the opening of the liner container or thehousing. The ends also have positioning structures used for adjustingthe length of the locking assembly.

Each of the locking end components also can be designed as anyone of theabove two structures, which means that, each of the locking endcomponents can comprise a locking button and a hook, wherein the hookhas an upper end rotatablely connected with the locking button, and alower end provided with a lock position for engaging with the rim of theliner container. The locking button has one end rotatablely connectedwith the connector with the other end free.

Each of the locking end components can also comprise an unlocking buttonconnected with the connector by a first pin and a lock connected withthe connector by a second pin. An elastic support sheet or a torsionspring is disposed under the unlocking button for retaining theunlocking button in a locking state, and a torsion spring is disposedunder the lock for retaining the lock in an unlocking state. The lockhas a free upper end, and a lower end provided with a lock position forengaging with the rim of the liner container. The unlocking button has afront support block as a front end for supporting the free upper end ofthe lock, and a free rear end.

In summary, the slow cooker according to the present invention caneffectively engage the lid with the liner container, ensuring that thelid would not slide off when moving the slow cooker and that the soupliquid would not spill over when the slow cooker is being shaken. Italso has convenient operation, stable performance and high reliability.The locking assembly is an independent structure, so it is easy toproduce, and convenient to clean, repair or replace, making it with highversatility and can be used for slow cookers of different size or othercooking utensils. This shows that compared to the prior art, the presentinvention has substantive features and advancements and therefore hascreativity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the slow cooker (notshowing the housing).

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the slow cooker.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the slowcooker when the lid is in a locking state.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portion A in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional partial view of the first embodiment of theslow cooker when the unlocking button is pressed to unlock.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional partial view of the first embodiment of theslow cooker when the lock is rotated to an unlocking state to unlock.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional partial view of the first embodiment of theslow cooker in an unlocking process.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the first embodiment of the slow cookerwhen the locking assembly is removed.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the slow cooker(not showing the housing).

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the slow cooker.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the locking assembly of the secondembodiment of the slow cooker.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the slowcooker when the lid is in a locking state.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of portion B in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional partial view of the second embodiment ofthe slow cooker when the unlocking button is pulled to unlock.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of the rotating direction of the lock whenthe unlocking button is pulled to a certain position.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional partial view of the second embodiment ofthe slow cooker when the lock is rotated to an unlocking state tounlock.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the slow cookerwhen the locking assembly is removed.

The above figures do not completely show components unrelated to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERABLE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is further described in reference to the figuresand embodiments.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 shows a slow cooker comprising a housing (not shown), a linercontainer 1, a lid component 2 and a locking assembly 3. The linercontainer 1 is disposed within the housing. The lid component 2 isdisposed on the liner container and covers the opening of the linercontainer 1. The lid component 2 has a handle. A sealing ring 22 isdisposed along the outer edge of the lid component 2. The lockingassembly 3 includes a connector 31 and two locking end componentsrespectively connected with the connector 31. The connector 31 isdisposed on the lid. The locking end components respectively canselectively engage with the rim 11 of the liner container 1, limitingthe movement of the lid component 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lid component 2 further includes, but notlimited to, a lid 21, a lid handle 23 and a sealing ring 22. Under thepressing of the locking assembly 3, the lid component 2 forms a confinedspace together with the liner container 1.

Each of the locking end components comprises a locking seat 32, a firstpin 33, an unlocking button 34, a lock 35, a second pin 36 and a torsionspring 37. The locking seat 32 has a first pin hole 321 arranged in thecenter thereof, a second pin hole 322 arranged in the end that is farfrom the connector 31, a elastic support sheet 323 arranged in the endthat is close to the connector 31, and a rigid support pillar 324arranged in the center. The unlocking button 34 has a button pin hole341 disposed in the center thereof, and the unlocking button isconnected with the locking seat 32 by the matching of the first pin 33,the button pin hole 341 and the first pin hole 321, allowing theunlocking button to rotate within a certain range. The lock 35 has alock pin hole 351 disposed in the center thereof, and the lock isconnected with the locking seat 32 by the matching of the second pin 36,the lock pin hole 351 and the second pin hole 322, allowing the lock torotate within a certain range. The torsion spring 37 is disposed aroundthe second pin 36, with one leg fixed on the locking seat 32, andanother leg fixed on the lock 35. The lock 35 can be retained in anopening state by the elastic force provided by the torsion spring 37.

The connector 31 has a hole 311 in the center, keeping away from the lidhandle 23 and saving space. The two ends of the connector 31respectively fit with the locking seat 32 by the matching of a buckleand a slot, or a rivet and a rivet hole.

The present embodiment locks and unlocks the lid component 2 with theliner container 1 in ways as follows.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in a locking state, the locking assembly 3 isdisposed on the lid component 2. The lock 35 is stuck in the second pinhole 322 of the locking seat 32 by the second pin 36. The torsion spring37 provides a prestressing force for the lock 35 to rotate to open. Theunlocking button 34 is stuck in the first pin hole 321 of the lockingseat 32 by the first pin 33. A front support block 342 of the unlockingbutton which is far from the center of the connector 31 forms aninterference with an arcuated support block 353 in the upper end of thelock 35, counteracting the prestressing force of the lock 35 to rotateto open and preventing the lock 35 from opening. Then the lockingassembly 3 compresses the lid component 2, thus the sealing ring 22 iscompressed. The liner container 1, the lid component 2 and the sealingring 22 form a confined space by the elasticity of the sealing ring 22,so as to inhibit leakage of soup and drop of the lid component 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the rear end button 343 (free end) of theunlocking button 34 that is close to the connector 31 is pressed down,the elastic support sheet 323 of the locking seat is compressed. Theunlocking button 34 then rotates counterclockwise due to the leverage ofthe first pin 33. Then the front support block 342 of the unlockingbutton 34 moves upward, relieving the interference with the arcuatedsupport block 353. As shown in FIG. 6, the arcuated support block 353then detaches from the front support block 342, and rotatescounterclockwise around the second pin 36 due to the elastic forceprovided by the torsion spring 37, from the dashed line position to thesolid line position. An “L” shaped lock position 352 in the lower end ofthe lock moves outward and thus the interference thereof with the rim 11of the liner container can be relieved. The unlocking button 34 resetsbecause of the elastic support sheet 323 and the rigid support pillar324 retains the unlocking button 34 in a certain state when the elasticsupport sheet moves back to a certain position. Now it is in theunlocking state, the locking assembly 3 can be lifted up and thepressure of the lid component 2 is released, therefore the lid component2 can be taken out and the slow cooker can be opened.

As shown in FIG. 7, to lock the lid component with the liner container,the “L” shaped lock position 352 in the lower end of the lock 35 can bepressed down and rotates clockwise around the second pin 36. Thearcuated support block 353 keeps in touch with the front support block342 of the unlocking button 34 and forces the unlocking button to rotatecounterclockwise. The elastic support sheet 323 is pressed to deform andthus a prestressing force to flick back is generated. When the lock 35rotates to a certain angle, the arcuated support block 353 detaches fromthe front support block 342 of the unlocking button 34. Then theunlocking button 34 rotates back under the back-flicking force of theelastic support sheet 323. After resetting of the unlocking button, thefront support block 342 of the unlocking button forms an interferencewith the arcuated support block 353 in the upper end of the lock,counteracting the back-flicking force of the torsion spring 37. The “L”shaped lock position 352 in the lower end of the lock can be retained inengagement with the rim 11 of the liner container, limiting theup-movement of the lid component 2, to engage the lid component with theliner container.

The locking assembly 3 in the present embodiment is a detachablestructure and can be detached from the lid component 2. As shown in FIG.8, the locking assembly 3 can be opened and entirely taken off, tofacilitate the cleaning of the lid component. Also, the locking assembly3 thus can be used for other slow cooker products, so multiple slowcookers can share one locking assembly. A locking assembly in suchdesign can be produced or sold as one component of a slow cookerindependently. It is also easy to repair or replace the locking assemblyafter destroy of it.

The locking assembly 3 can also be designed as a non-detachablestructure, such as, a structure fixed on the lid in the form ofriveting, screwing or other forms, which can also lock or unlock the lidcomponent 2 with the liner container 1.

The connector 31 in the present embodiment has a fixing hole, and thelocking seat 32 has several through-holes in the center, disposedcertain distance from each other correspondingly. The locking seat 32can be engaged with different positions of the connector 31 by fasteningany one of the through-holes of the locking seat with the fixing hole bya fastener, to adjust the length of the locking assembly 3 in differentlevels. In such design, the length of the locking assembly 3 can beadjusted based on different volume sizes of liner containers 2, whichincreases the versatility of the component and lowers the cost.

In the present embodiment, the unlocking button 34 rotates back underthe back-flicking force of the elastic support sheet 323, thus theunlocking button forms an interference with the arcuated support block353 in the upper end of the lock. To achieve the same effect, theelastic support sheet 323 of the locking seat 32 can be replaced by atorsion spring disposed around the first pin 33, so the unlocking button34 can reset under the elastic force of the torsion spring.

While the locking assembly 3 in the present embodiment includes twolocking end components and the two locking end components share the samestructure, the two locking end components can also be designed into twodifferent structures, provided the locking end components canselectively engage the lid with the liner container.

The locking assembly 3 can also be designed to comprise three, four ormore locking end components.

While the locking assembly 3 in the present embodiment can be usedindependently, two, three or more locking assemblies can be used incombination, such that the lid of the slow cooker can be engaged withthe liner container by two, four or more locking end components.

The lid handle 23 in the present embodiment is in a ball shape, and thelocking assembly keeps away from the lid handle 23 by the hole 311 andthen compresses the lid. As for a lid handle in an arch shape, theconnector 31 can either keep away from the lid handle by a hole, ordirectly pass through below the lid handle without a hole.

The slow cooker according to the present embodiment has a novelstructure, convenient operation, stable performance and highreliability.

Embodiment 2

As shown in FIGS. 9 to 17, it is different from the first embodimentthat, each of the locking end components of the slow cooker according tothe present embodiment comprises a locking seat 32′, a first pin 33′, anunlocking button 34′, a lock 35′ and a sleeve 38′. The locking seat 32′includes a support rib 325′ disposed far from the connector, and thesupport rib 325′ has a first pin hole 321′. The unlocking button 34′includes a button pin hole 341′ corresponding to the first pin hole321′, and is connected with locking seat 32′ by the first pin 33′, andcan rotate within a certain range. The unlocking button 34′ comprises anassembly hole 344′ disposed close to the button pin hole 341′, and arear end button 343′ (free end) disposed on the end opposed to thebutton pin hole 341′ which can be pulled up.

The lock 35′ comprises two hook-shaped pins 354′ oppositely disposed inthe upper end, and an “L” shaped lock position 352′ in the lower end.The pins 354′respectively hook the assembly holes 344′ in the unlockingbutton, allowing the lock 35′ to be connected with the unlocking button34′ and rotate within a certain range. The “L” shaped lock position 352′is capable of selectively engaging with the rim 11′ of the linercontainer, so as to engage the lid component with the liner container.The sleeve 38′ is disposed around the center position of the “L” shapedlock position 352′.

The present embodiment locks and unlocks the lid with the linercontainer in ways as follows.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in a locking state, the locking assembly 3′is disposed on the lid component 2′. The unlocking button 34′ isconnected with the locking seat 32′ by the matching of the button pinhole 341′, the first pin 33′ and the first pin hole 321′. The lock 35′is stuck in the assembly holes 344′ of the unlocking button 34′ by thepins 354′. The sealing ring 22′ is compressed by the locking assemblyand has a prestressing force to move upward, forcing the lock 35′ toform an interference with the rim 11′ of the liner container andpreventing the lid component 2′ from opening. Then the locking assembly3′ compresses the lid component 2′, such that the liner container 1′,the lid component 2′ and the sealing ring 22′ form a confined space bythe elasticity of the sealing ring 22′, so as to inhibit leakage of soupand drop of the lid component 2′.

As shown in FIG. 14, in order to open the lid component 2′, the rear endbutton 343′ of the unlocking button 34′ should be pulled up first, theunlocking button 34′ then rotates clockwise around the first pin 33′.The sealing ring 22′ is compressed under the pulling force of the lock35′, and the lid component 2′ moves downward, allowing the unlockingbutton 34′ to continually rotate upward. After the highest point of therotation, the distance between the assembly holes 344′ and the undersideof the rim 11′ of the liner container gradually shortens, and finallyrelieves the interference between the lock 35′ and the liner container2′, allowing the lock 35′ to rotate outward, as shown in FIG. 15, fromthe dashed line position to the solid line position. Then the lockingassembly 3′ is not restricted in the upward or downward direction andthus can be taken off from upside. As shown in the FIG. 16, the lock 35′and the unlocking button 34′ can continually rotate to lay on thelocking seat 32′, to facilitate taking up and lying down.

In order to lock the lid component with the liner container, the lidcomponent 2′ can be placed on the liner container 1′ first. Then thelocking assembly 3′ can be placed on the lid component 2′. When theunlocking button 34′ is pulled outward, the lock 35′ is free and thusthe “L” shaped lock position 352′ in the lower end of the lock can beengaged with the rim 11′ of the liner container, and the unlockingbutton 34′ can be rotated to the opposite direction at the same time.Before the highest point of the rotation of the unlocking button 34′,the locking seat 32′ moves downward under the pulling force of the lock35′, compressing the sealing ring 22′ to deform and generating aprestressing force. After the highest point of the rotation of theunlocking button 34′, the unlocking button 34′ automatically resetsunder the up-pushing prestressing force of the sealing ring 22′, forcingthe lock 35′ to form an interference with the rim 11′ of the linercontainer and preventing the lid component 2′ from opening, so as toengage the lid component with the liner container.

The connector in the present embodiment has a fixing hole 312′, and thelocking seat has several through-holes 326′ in the center, disposedcertain distance from each other correspondingly. The locking seat canbe engaged with different position of the connector by fastening any oneof the through-holes 326′ of the locking seat with the fixing hole 312′by a fastener, to adjust the length of the locking assembly in differentlevels. In such design, the length of the locking assembly can beadjusted based on different volume sizes of liner containers, whichincreases the versatility of the component and lowers the cost.

What is claimed is:
 1. A slow cooker comprising a liner container, a lidand a locking assembly, the locking assembly retaining the lid on anopening of the liner container, wherein the liner container has a rimprojecting outside at the opening, the locking assembly comprises aconnector disposed on the lid for engaging the lid with the opening ofthe liner container, and locking end components provided at ends of theconnector for engaging with the rim of the liner container.
 2. The slowcooker according to claim 1, wherein the slow cooker comprises at leastone locking assembly detachable from the liner container and the lid. 3.The slow cooker according to claim 2, wherein the slow cooker comprisesone elongated locking assembly disposed on the lid.
 4. The slow cookeraccording to claim 3, wherein the liner container and the lid are bothcircular with the locking assembly disposed along a diameter of the lid,or the liner container and the lid are both oval with the lockingassembly disposed along a long axis or a short axis of the lid; and thelid has a handle, a hole is provided in a center of the locking assemblyfor passing through of the handle.
 5. The slow cooker according to claim1, wherein each of the locking end components comprises a locking buttonand a hook, wherein the hook has an upper end rotatablely connected withthe locking button, and a lower end provided with a lock position forengaging with the rim of the liner container, and the locking button hasone end rotatablely connected with the connector with the other endfree.
 6. The slow cooker according to claim 1, wherein each of thelocking end components comprises an unlocking button connected with theconnector by a first pin and a lock connected with the connector by asecond pin, wherein an elastic support sheet or a torsion spring isdisposed under the unlocking button for retaining the unlocking buttonin a locking state, and a torsion spring is disposed under the lock forretaining the lock in an unlocking state, the lock has a free upper end,and a lower end provided with a lock position for engaging with the rimof the liner container, and the unlocking button has a front supportblock as a front end for supporting the free upper end of the lock, anda free rear end.
 7. The slow cooker according to claim 1, wherein eachof the locking end components is connected with the connector by apositioning structure used for adjusting length of the locking assembly.8. A locking assembly detachable from a liner container and a lid,wherein the locking assembly comprises a connector disposed on the lidfor engaging the lid with an opening of the liner container, and lockingend components provided at ends of the connector for engaging with a rimof the liner container.
 9. The locking assembly according to claim 8,wherein the connector has an elongated shape, a Y shape or an H shape, ahole is provided in a center of the locking assembly for passing throughof a handle, and each of the locking end components is connected withthe connector by a positioning structure used for adjusting length ofthe locking assembly.
 10. The locking assembly according to claim 8,wherein each of the locking end component comprises a locking button anda hook, wherein the hook has an upper end rotatablely connected with thelocking button, and a lower end provided with a lock position forengaging with the rim of the liner container, the locking button has oneend rotatablely connected with the connector with the other end free.11. The locking assembly according to claim 8, wherein each of thelocking end components comprises an unlocking button connected with theconnector by a first pin and a lock connected with the connector by asecond pin, wherein an elastic support sheet or a torsion spring isdisposed under the unlocking button for retaining the unlocking buttonin a locking state, and a torsion spring is disposed under the lock forretaining the lock in an unlocking state, the lock has a free upper end,and a lower end provided with a lock position for engaging with the rimof the liner container, the unlocking button has a front support blockas a front end for supporting the free upper end of the lock, and a freerear end.